Method and apparatus for directing Internet users to health care information such as names of health care providers

ABSTRACT

A method including storing content in a computer database, the content having a plurality of components. The method further comprises associating each of at least some of the content components with at least one of a plurality of codes (such as ICD or CPT codes) in a manner so that each of the plurality of codes employed has at least one of the content components associated therewith, and providing a retrieval system accessible by a user using the Internet. The retrieval system is adapted to retrieve the content components associated with any one of the codes upon receiving a signal sent by the user. The signal corresponds to said any one of the codes. The content components associated with said any one of codes are sent to the user upon receiving the signal.

[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/655,563, filed Sep. 6, 2000 and entitled “Method And Apparatus ForDirecting Internet Users To Health Care Information Such As Names OfHealth Care Providers.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to methods and apparatus for directingInternet users to health care information.

[0003] The Internet is a rich source of information on a wide variety ofsubjects such as medicine. The field of medicine, however, is vast andtechnically complex, and involves many terms of art which are not in thevocabulary of a typical Internet user. An Internet user who happens tolocate health care information relevant to a particular ailment orconcern might desire to locate a health care provider for treatment oradvice. If the Internet user knows the type of health care provider ortype of specialty best suited for providing such treatment or advise,he/she might be able to locate a qualified health care provider via atelephone book or insurance list of providers. In many cases, however,the user will not know the type of specialty best suited for his/herailment or concern and will not know how to locate a specialist. Also,sub-specialists often exist within specialties. For example, generalsurgeons include vascular surgeons, colon and rectal surgeons, endocrinesurgeons, breast surgeons, oncologic surgeons, etc. Sub-specialties aregenerally not listed in telephone books or insurance lists of providersand are typically not indexed or followed. Further, some sub-specialtiesare so specific that relatively few such sub-specialists exist in theentire U.S. or world and may be geographically remote from the Internetuser. As such, such sub-specialist could not be located via a localtelephone book or insurance list of providers. This problem causes allsub-specialists to be listed and indexed by their generalclassification, and therefore patients cannot find the correctspecialist.

[0004] Presently, some web sites facilitate searching names ofphysicians by specialty for a particular geographic location. However,the areas of specialty are somewhat broad, and no provision is availablefor refining the search by sub-specialty. Also, no provision is made forlocating a physician based on an ailment, condition, or desiredprocedure. This is especially troublesome since patients nearly alwaysneed a specialist because of the need for a very specific procedure ortherapeutic intervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Among the features and advantages of the present invention may benoted the provision of an improved method for providing specific andrelevant health care information to Internet users; the provision ofsuch a method for directing Internet users to the names of health careproviders for treating specific ailments or conditions regardless ofwhether the users know what type of specialist treats such ailments orconditions; the provision of such a method for directing Internet usersto pertinent and specific content, such as the names of health careproviders, relating to health care information with which the user isinterfacing; the provision of an improved method which employsstandardized codes for directing Internet users to such content; theprovision of such a method which employs International Classification ofDiseases (ICD) codes or Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes; theprovision of an improved Internet navigational system for providinghealth care information to a user; the provision of such a systememploying standardized codes, such as ICD or CPT codes, to enable a userto retrieve content stored in a database.

[0006] Generally, a method of the present invention comprises storingcontent in a computer database, the content having a plurality ofcomponents. The method further comprises associating each of at leastsome of the content components with at least one of a plurality of codes(such as ICD or CPT codes) in a manner so that each of the plurality ofcodes employed has at least one of the content components associatedtherewith, and providing a retrieval system accessible by a user usingthe Internet. The retrieval system is adapted to retrieve the contentcomponents associated with any one of the codes upon receiving a signalsent by the user. The signal corresponds to said any one of the codes.The content components associated with said any one of codes are sent tothe user upon receiving the signal.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a method of supplyingnames of health care providers to Internet users. The method comprisesstoring the names of at least a plurality of health care providers in acomputer database, and associating each of the names of the plurality ofhealth care providers with at least one of a plurality codes (such asICD or CPT codes). The names are associated with the codes in a mannerso that each of the plurality of codes employed has at least one of thenames associated therewith. The method further comprises providing aretrieval system accessible by a user using the Internet. The retrievalsystem is adapted to retrieve the stored names associated with any oneof the codes upon receiving a signal from the user. The signalcorresponds to said any one of the codes. The names associated with saidany one of codes are sent to the user upon receiving the signal.

[0008] A further aspect of the present invention is an Internetnavigational system. The navigational system comprises a computerdatabase and a retrieval system. The computer database has contentstored therein. The content has a plurality of components. Each of atleast some of the content components are associated with at least one ofa plurality of codes (such as ICD or CPT codes) in a manner such thateach of the plurality of codes employed has at least one of the contentcomponents associated therewith. The retrieval system is accessible by auser using the Internet. The retrieval system is adapted to retrieve thecontent components associated with any one of the codes upon receiving asignal from the user. The signal corresponds to said any one of thecodes.

[0009] Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in partpointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram representing a computersystem having an Internet navigational system of the present invention;and

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exemplary interface having a series of buttons.

[0012] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] An Internet navigational system of the present invention isindicated generally in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 20. The Internetnavigational system 20 comprises a server 22 for enabling an Internetuser to retrieve information. The server 22 comprises a computerdatabase and a retrieval system. The retrieval system is preferably adatabase search engine (e.g., Broadvision, Verity, etc.). The server 22is shown as a conventional computer system, rather genericallycomprising a network coupling device 24 of a suitable type, such as ahigh-speed analog or digital modem, a central processing unit (CPU) 26,a display 28 and a keyboard 30 for operator interaction. It should beunderstood that various means for entering data and observations otherthan keyboards are known. Such devices may include light pens, pointingdevices such as a computer mouse, touch screens, or even microphones orvideo cameras or any other data input device, all of which can beconfigured to serve a function equivalent to a keyboard for purposes ofthis invention. The server 22 may, itself, be a computer network insteadof the simple system shown in FIG. 1. In particular, server 22 maycomprise one or more separate web servers and/or separate databases withextensive RAM and disk memory storage, or their functional equivalents.Although not shown in FIG. 1, portions of such a server network may bephysically separate from one another, and these portions may communicatewith each other over the Internet or over a separate network.

[0014] The navigational system 20 further includes at least one userterminal 30 coupled to the Internet 32 (or any other suitablecommunication network). The server 22 is also coupled to the Internet32. In a commercially successful system, it is anticipated that therewould be large numbers of user terminals of various different types incommunication with the server 22. As is conventional at present, theuser terminal 30 is shown as a conventional personal computer systemincluding a display 34, a keyboard 36, a mouse 38, a system unit 40, anda modem 42. Usually, the modem couples to the Internet 20 via a dataline 19 such as a cable or telephone line. Alternatively, the userterminal communicates with the Internet via wireless communication.

[0015] The server 22 is preferably functionally coupled to the Internet32 and thus to terminals 32 via one or more dedicated, high-speed lines34. The requirements for server 22 and high-speed lines 34 are dictatedat least in part by the expected volume of data to be exchanged withusers at user terminals and by the number of such user terminals andusers that are expected to access the server.

[0016] Stated generally, the computer database has content storedtherein and the content has a plurality of components. In the preferredembodiment, the content comprises a plurality of names of health careproviders, such as physicians, chiropractors, nurses, psychologists,optometrists, etc. Consistent with the terminology used herein, eachname constitutes a component of the plurality of names. Preferably, atleast one standardized code (and more preferably at least one ICD or CPTcode) is associated with each name.

[0017] The term “CPT codes” stands for Physician's Current ProceduralTerminology codes and comprises a listing of descriptive terms andidentifying codes for reporting medical services and proceduresperformed by physicians. The purpose of the terminology is to provide auniform language for accurately describing medical, surgical, anddiagnostic services. It provides an effective means for reliablenationwide communication among physicians, patients, and third parties.CPT descriptive terms and identifying codes currently serve a widevariety of important functions in the field of medical nomenclature.This system of terminology is the most widely accepted nomenclature forthe reporting of physician procedures and services under government andprivate health insurance programs. CPT is also useful for administrativemanagement purposes such as claims processing and for the development ofguidelines for medical education and research by providing a usefulbasis for local, regional and national utilization comparisons. CPTcodes are updated on an annual basis through the combined efforts ofmany individuals and organizations and are published through manyoutlets, including most medical organizations, providers, and the U.S.and most other governments. Most CPT codes are 5 digit codes, which canbe modified by a number of suffixes.

[0018] As used herein, “ICD codes” means International Classification ofDiseases codes. In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) published astatistical listing for tracking both morbidity and mortality. Thislisting, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) led to thecurrent text in international use today, the ICD ninth edition (ICD-9).This version precisely delineates the clinical picture of each patient,providing exact information beyond that needed for statisticalgroupings. ICD-9 codes are comprised of letters and numbers ranging fromone letter and two numbers (generic diagnosis such as breast cancer) toone letter followed by 5 or more numbers. The extra digits constrict thediagnosis to become more specific.

[0019] A typical physician uses several CPT and ICD codes in his/herpractice to chart and identify diagnoses or treatments of patientconditions. The specific CPT and ICD codes used may vary widely fromphysician to physician, even as to physicians having the same specialty.A primary reason for this is that the types of patients a physicianmight see vary from doctor to doctor. As between two plastic surgeonsfor example, one might specialize in breast augmentation and the othermight specialize in treatment of burn victims. The former will use ICDand CPT codes concerning breast augmentation and the later will use ICDand CPT codes concerning diagnosis and treatment of burn victims.

[0020] As contemplated by the present invention, the ICD and CPT codesmay be used to enable Internet users to find physicians. Perhaps statedmore accurately, the ICD and CPT codes may be used to enable physiciansto be located by potential patients which the physicians desire totreat. Rather than being listed by a relatively broad specialty, use ofthe ICD and CPT codes enables a physician to be listed for search-enginepurposes by ailment, condition, and treatment options. A physician canchoose to have his/her name be retrievable by any search within his/herarea of practice, or can choose to have his/her name be retrievable onlyby searches related to certain ailments, conditions, or treatmentoptions within his/her specialty. In other words, if a physician wantsto expand his/her patient base for all areas within his/her specialty,all ICD and CPT codes within those areas can be associated with thephysician's name. If a physician wants to expand his/her patient basefor only certain areas of his/her specialty, the ICD and CPT codesconcerning such certain areas can be associated with the physician'sname. A physician can choose to have certain ICD and CPT codesassociated with his/her name and choose to have other ICD and CPT codesnot associated with his/her name.

[0021] Once a determination is made as to which ICD and CPT codes toidentify with a physician, the physicians name and selected codes areentered into the database of the server 22. The retrieval systemcommunicates with the database and is adapted to retrieve some or all ofthe names of the health care providers associated with any one of theICD or CPT codes upon receiving a signal sent by a user. The signalcorresponds to any one of the ICD or CPT codes.

[0022] In the present embodiment, the server 22 comprises components ofa host computer system, generally indicated at 50, and the signal sentby a user comprises a signal sent by a client computer system 52communicating with the host computer system. The host computer system 50communicates with the client computer system 52 in a manner forproviding on the client computer system an interface for the hostcomputer system, and the host computer system is adapted to receive thesignal via the interface. The interface may comprise a box, icon, orbutton on a screen of the client computer system 52. For example, theinterface might be a box prompting the user to directly input an ICD orCPT code (e.g., by typing the code directly in the box) to initiate asearch. This input is received by the retrieval system of the server 22.Upon receipt, the retrieval system retrieves from the database the namesof the health care providers (and/or other content) associated with theICD or CPT code, and conveys the search results to the client computersystem 52.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary interface on a client screen, generallyindicated at 60. Although the user may have the option of initiating asearch by directly inputting an ICD or CPT code, it is expected thatmost Internet users will be unfamiliar with ICD and CPT codes. In onepreferred mode of operation, the interface comprises a button or icon 62appearing on the client screen 60 of the client computer system.Preferably, the icon 62 has a descriptive indicia (e.g., “DoctorLocator”) to indicate its purpose. Preferably, the icon 62 appears onthe client screen when the user is accessing a particular community ormicro-community (e.g., a web page, chat room, resource tool, drugdatabase, etc.) containing information about or somehow related to aparticular ailment, condition, or treatment option. The user may bedirected to select the button or icon 62 in order to retrieve a relevantlist of health care providers. Because the web page or chat room relatesto a particular ailment, condition, or treatment option, the system isadapted so that selection of the button or icon by the user sends to thehost computer system 50 a signal associated with the ICD or CPT codesrelated to such ailment, condition, or treatment option. Another type ofpossible community is a health map as disclosed in commonly owned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,781, filed Apr. 12,2000 and titled A NAVAGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME(incorporated herein by reference). The maps and map nodes connect tospecific databases, one of which may be a listing of ICD and CPT codeswhich are then associated with healthcare provider names. Also, mapnodes may point directly to a database of healthcare provider names whowant to be associated with that map and map node. Commonly owned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/425,779, filed Oct. 22,1999, and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING INTERNET USERS TOHEALTH CARE INFORMATION (hereby incorporated by reference) discloses useof ICD and CPT codes to obtain health care information. Moreparticularly, such application envisions health care information beingassociated with ICD and CPT codes. The present invention complements thesystem described in such application by enabling a user to locate healthcare providers who specialize in the very subject matter that the useris then reading about.

[0024] In addition to providing the names of the health care providersassociated with the ICD or CPT codes, it is to be understood that otherinformation about the health care providers (e.g., the providers'addresses and/or telephone numbers, and perhaps some biographicalinformation) may also typically be retrieved from the database andtransmitted to the client computer system 52.

[0025] In practice, information about health care providers is stored inthe database of the server 22. The information preferably includes basicinformation (e.g., name, address, telephone number) and specificinformation about the providers. The specific information includes thespecific ICD and CPT codes with which any given provider wishes to beidentified. Thus, Internet users retrieving health care information canalso retrieve names and information of relevant health care providers.

[0026] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects ofthe invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[0027] As various changes could be made in the above constructions andmethods without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a host computersystem, the host computer system being adapted to retrieve descriptiveinformation about a plurality of ailments, the descriptive informationcomprising one or more of the following: physiological aspects of theailment, pathological aspects of the ailment, information as to whetherthe ailment is treatable, information about expected clinical course,and information about potential complications, the host computer systemfurther being adapted to send to a client computer system communicatingwith the host computer system via the Internet the descriptiveinformation of any one of the plurality of ailments upon receiving fromthe client computer system a search query concerning said any one of theplurality of ailments; associating the descriptive information of eachof the plurality of ailments with a plurality of ICD or CPT codes;associating a plurality of content components with the plurality of ICDor CPT codes in a manner so that each of the content components isassociated with at least one of the ICD or CPT codes; sending thedescriptive information of said any one of the plurality of ailments tothe client computer system via the Internet, the sending of thedescriptive information being initiated by the host computer systemreceiving from the client computer system the search query concerningsaid any one of the plurality of ailments; sending to the clientcomputer system via the Internet each of the content components that areassociated with the ICD or CPT codes with which the sent descriptiveinformation is associated.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe plurality of content components comprises names of at least aplurality of health care providers.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 2wherein the step of associating the plurality of content components withthe plurality of ICD or CPT codes comprises associating the names of thehealth care providers with the plurality of ICD or CPT codes in a mannerso that each of the names of the health care providers is associatedwith at least one of the ICD or CPT codes.
 4. A method as set forth inclaim 3 wherein the ICD or CPT codes with which the name of each healthcare provider are associated are ICD or CPT codes chosen by each suchhealth care provider.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein thestep of associating a plurality of content components with the pluralityof ICD or CPT codes comprises associating each of at least some of thenames with at least one of the ICD or CPT codes in a manner so that eachof the plurality of ICD or CPT codes employed has at least one of thenames associated therewith.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe search query concerning said any one of the plurality of ailmentscomprises an ICD or CPT code.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 1wherein the host computer system communicates with the client computersystem in a manner for providing on the client computer system aninterface for the host computer system, the interface prompting a userto input a search query.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein theinterface comprises a community, and wherein selection of the communityby the user causes the search query to be sent to the host computersystem.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the interfacecomprises an icon on a community, and wherein selection of the icon bythe user causes the search query to be sent to the host computer system.10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the community comprises aweb page and wherein the icon is on the web page.
 11. A method as setforth in claim 1 wherein: the step of associating the descriptiveinformation of each of the plurality of ailments with the plurality ofICD or CPT codes comprises associating the descriptive information ofeach of the plurality of ailments with a plurality of ICD and CPT codes;the step of associating the plurality of content components with theplurality of ICD or CPT codes comprises associating the plurality ofcontent components with the plurality of ICD and CPT codes.
 12. A methodcomprising: providing a host computer system, the host computer systembeing adapted to retrieve descriptive information about a plurality ofailments, the descriptive information comprising one or more of thefollowing: physiological aspects of the ailment, pathological aspects ofthe ailment, information as to whether the ailment is treatable,information about expected clinical course, and information aboutpotential complications, the host computer system further being adaptedto send to a client computer system communicating with the host computersystem via the Internet the descriptive information of any one of theplurality of ailments upon receiving from the client computer system asearch query concerning said any one of the plurality of ailments;associating the descriptive information of each of the plurality ofailments with a plurality of ICD or CPT codes; associating names of atleast a plurality of health care providers with the plurality of ICD orCPT codes in a manner so that each of the names of the plurality ofhealth care providers is associated with at least one of the ICD or CPTcodes; sending the descriptive information of said any one of theplurality of ailments to the client computer system via the Internet,the sending of the descriptive information being initiated by the hostcomputer system receiving from the client computer system the searchquery concerning said any one of the plurality of ailments; sending tothe client computer system each of the names of the plurality of healthcare providers that are associated with the ICD or CPT codes with whichthe sent descriptive information is associated.
 13. A method as setforth in claim 12 wherein the ICD or CPT codes with which the name ofeach health care provider are associated are ICD or CPT codes chosen byeach such health care provider.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 12wherein the search query concerning said any one of the plurality ofailments comprises an ICD or CPT code.
 15. A method as set forth inclaim 12 wherein the host computer system communicates with the clientcomputer system in a manner for providing on the client computer systeman interface for the host computer system, the interface prompting auser to input a search query.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 15wherein the interface comprises a community, and wherein selection ofthe community by the user causes the search query to be sent to the hostcomputer system.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein theinterface comprises an icon on a community, and wherein selection of theicon by the user causes the search query to be sent to the host computersystem.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communitycomprises a web page and wherein the icon is on the web page.
 19. AnInternet navigational system comprising: at least one computer databasehaving stored therein descriptive information about a plurality ofailments, the descriptive information comprising one or more of thefollowing: physiological aspects of the ailment, pathological aspects ofthe ailment, information as to whether the ailment is treatable,information about expected clinical course, and information aboutpotential complications, the descriptive information of each of theplurality of ailments being associated with a plurality of ICD or CPTcodes, the at least one computer database also having stored therein aplurality of content components, each of the content components beingassociated with at least one of the ICD or CPT codes; a host computersystem adapted and configured to retrieve from the at least one computerdatabase the descriptive information, the host computer system furtherbeing adapted and configured to send to a client computer systemcommunicating with the host computer system via the Internet thedescriptive information of any one of the plurality of ailments uponreceiving from the client computer system a search query concerning saidany one of the plurality of ailments, the host computer system furtherbeing adapted and configured to send to the client computer system viathe Internet at least one of the content components based upon theassociation of the ICD or CPT codes such that the sent contentcomponents are associated with the ICD or CPT codes with which the sentdescriptive information is associated.
 20. An Internet navigationalsystem comprising: at least one computer database having stored thereindescriptive information about a plurality of ailments, the descriptiveinformation comprising one or more of the following: physiologicalaspects of the ailment, pathological aspects of the ailment, informationas to whether the ailment is treatable, information about expectedclinical course, and information about potential complications, thedescriptive information of each of the plurality of ailments beingassociated with a plurality of ICD or CPT codes, the at least onecomputer database also having stored therein names of at least aplurality of health care providers, each of the names of the pluralityof health care providers being associated with at least one of the ICDor CPT codes; a host computer system adapted and configured to retrievefrom the at least one computer database the descriptive information, thehost computer system further being adapted and configured to send to aclient computer system communicating with the host computer system viathe Internet the descriptive information of any one of the plurality ofailments upon receiving from the client computer system a search queryconcerning said any one of the plurality of ailments, the host computersystem further being adapted and configured to send to the clientcomputer system via the Internet at least one of the names of the healthcare providers based upon the association of the ICD or CPT codes suchthat the sent names of the health care providers are associated with theICD or CPT codes with which the sent descriptive information isassociated.